The booming chant of “SFP! SFP!” echoed from the crowd as the two teams lined up for the postmatch handshake. St. Francis Prep coach Kevin Colucci couldn’t help but smile, point toward the massive student section and give a thumbs up.

The reaction from the bleachers sounded like it came after a Terriers victory. But actually No. 3 St. Francis Prep fell to top-seed St. Anthony’s (L.I.), 25-8, 25-23, 25-15, in the NSCHSAA boys volleyball championship match Monday night at Hofstra University. More than 100 students made the trek from Queens to cheer on the underdogs, who beat No. 2 Chaminade in the semifinals in a five-set thriller last week and were in their first final in at least four years.

“We wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for our fans backing us up,” St. Francis Prep senior outside hitter Brandon Colon said. “They’ve supported us from Day One.”

The wild cheers from their fans, some of whom were shirtless and in body paint, almost pushed SFP (11-7) to a second-set victory over powerhouse St. Anthony’s (16-0). The noise was deafening when the Terriers went ahead 17-11 on a Friars attack error. A win there would have made it 1-1, but St. Anthony’s staged a monumental comeback and star outside hitter Scott Van Duyne (match-high 11 kills) crushed a kill to finish off the set, 25-23.

“Did we let up a little bit? Yes,” said middle hitter Chris Pierantoni, who had three blocks. “But volleyball is a game of runs and this time we just ended up on the bad side of the run.”

The senior said at the beginning of the season a playoff run like this was not expected. There were shaky times for the Terriers, like a disappointing showing in the Francis Lewis tournament and two losses to fourth-place Kellenberg, one of them a sweep. St. Francis battled back, though. Colucci wasn’t sure if this was his best team, but it was one of the ones he enjoyed coaching the most.

“The passion they have for the game,” he said of what makes this group stand out. “It’s just a great bunch of guys to coach. They’re very self motivated. They have such love and passion for the game.”

Senior outside Yanni Malo had six kills and three blocks, Colon had five kills and Chris Kohlios had four kills. for Prep, which has not won a NSCHSAA title since 1996. Senior setter Tom Barcicelli had 17 assists. Malo said he and the other seniors told Colucci years ago that this would group would eventually get him to a final and they did not disappoint.

“Everyone stepped up this year,” Pierantoni said. “It’s honestly one of the greatest things I can say I’ve been a part of.”

The seniors reached goal from when they first started and the huge crowd on hand was proof that they achieved it.

“We knew we needed to make a name for the sport,” Colon said. “We knew that volleyball wasn’t really looked at as a legit sport at Prep.”

At least not boys volleyball. Colucci’s girls program has won four straight undefeated CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens titles and been to the Class AA state semifinals two of the last three seasons.

Almost the entire girls team was on hand at Hofstra to support the boys Monday and Colon said Tuesday the two teams would play for St. Francis Prep bragging rights. But Colucci was non-committal as to whether that match would happen.

And who would win?

“Toss up,” the coach said with a laugh. “That’s not going in the paper.”